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Upbeat Moyer happy to rejoin Phillies

Upbeat Moyer happy to rejoin Phils

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By Todd Zolecki
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MLB.com |

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer is a more productive spectator at the ballpark than he is at home or in the hospital.

He planned to be in the Phillies' dugout Sunday night for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. If he notices something important on the field, he now has the ability to tell a teammate.

"In my apartment or at the hospital, I had to tell my wife," Moyer joked.

Moyer, who tied with right-hander Joe Blanton and left-hander J.A. Happ for the Phillies' lead with 12 wins this season, is back with his teammates after he unexpectedly spent three nights in the hospital last week with a blood infection following surgery to repair tendons in his left groin and abdomen.

"I was quite uncertain when I went back in the hospital what was going on," Moyer said. "It was most definitely unexpected."

Moyer watched Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 7, five days after he had surgery. That day, he started to have back pain and a fever. He checked himself into the hospital, and blood tests discovered the infection.

"I feel pretty good now," Moyer said. "I started my rehab [Saturday]. I'm able to walk on the treadmill and do some easy and light leg exercises. Infection or no infection, that's where I would have started, so I only started a couple days later than expected. I feel like I'm moving forward. I feel much better."

NL Championship Series

Moyer is not fully recovered from the infection. He has a PICC line in his right arm, which he must have through next weekend. The line is connected to a device that he carries in a bag around his waist. Think of it as a slightly bigger fanny pack.

"It's one day at a time at this point," Moyer said.

But he is back and he hopes to help in any way possible. He has the experience. Moyer is 3-3 with a 4.14 ERA in eight career starts in the playoffs. His eight postseason starts are tied with Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels for fifth among active pitchers. Only Andy Pettitte (36), Tom Glavine (35), Randy Johnson (16) and Mike Hampton (10) have started more.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.